Private security guards on fast unto death protesting poor pay

A group of private security guards has been on a fast-unto-death for the past one week at Azad Maidan demanding a hike in their salaries.

According to the protesters, their meagre salaries are not sufficient for them to look after their families, and worse, they will be thrown out of their jobs since the guards from the state government’s Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC) will soon be employed at major government buildings and installations.

The Bharatiya Suraksha Rakshak and Shram Kamgar Union, formed in 1981, consists of nearly 33,000 security guards who have been working at several important government and private buildings in the city. Now that the MSSC is geared to employ government security guards for much higher salaries and perks, survival for the old order seems uncertain.

Many guards say that their salaries are extremely low, making it practically impossible for them to support their families.
“We have been securing these buildings for the past many years, and most of us have over 10 years of work experience. If the MSCC guards take over, we will be left jobless. The eligibility criteria of the MSSC are such that we cannot get jobs there. The candidates have to be a minimum of 12th standard pass. Why this eligibility factor now and not earlier?” says Sanjay Gaikwad, founder chairman of the union.

With the government oblivious to their situation, the guards have had to knock on the doors of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Ram Kadam.